Sheet handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

Side gauge for sheet handling apparatus such as a printer slotter which has a pneumatically operable auxiliary gauge member to allow for quick processing of oversized paperboard blanks with remote control.

United States Patent Grobman [151 3,693,970 1 Sept. 26, 1972 [5 4] ISHEET HANDLING APPARATUS [72] Inventor: William Grobman, Philadelphia,Pa. [73] Assignee: Harris-Intertype Corporation,

Cleveland, Ohio [22] Filed: Oct. 13, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 80,370

[52] US. Cl. ..27l/59 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65h 9/04 [58] Field of Search..27l/58, 59, 48, 49, 89, l

[56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,615,590 I 1/1927 Low...271/4s 3,256,010 6/1966 Buccicone ..271/89 X 1,792,878 2/1931 Wagner..271/49 X 3,385,457 5/1968 Zinn ..2 71/89 X 3,176,801 4/1965 Huff..92/9 X 3,198,105 8/1965 Smith ..271/58 X 2,128,316 8/1938 Paul..271/89 Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Bruce H.Stoner, .lr. Attorney-Seidel, Gonda & Goldhammer [57] ABSTRACT Sidegauge for sheet handling apparatus such as a printer slotter which has apneumatically operable auxiliary gauge member to allow for quickprocessing of oversized paperboard blanks with remote control.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEBsEm I972 SHEET 1 [IF 2 INVENTORWILL/AM GROBMA/V PATENTED I973 3.693.970

SHEET 2 0F 2 IN VEN TOR WILL/AM GROBMAN A r TORNE Y5 SHEET HANDLINGAPPARATUS This invention is directed to a sheet handling apparatus, suchas a printer-slotter particularly adapted for use in processing sheetssuch as flat paperboard box blanks. When starting a new production runof blanks, it is common to have approximately ten to twenty excessivelyover-sized box blanks due to length adjustments in the corrugatormachine cut-off. These oversized box blanks are generally mixed withgood blanks of the proper size. The over-sized box blanks create aproblem in feeding. In order to feed the sheets such as paperboard boxblanks in alignment, it has been known to utilize a pair of side gauges.The side gauges are laterally adjustable to accommodate various sizes ofbox blanks. During feeding of the blanks, one of the side gauages isgenerally stationary while the other may be manually movable tofacilitate accommodation of the excessively over-sized box blanks. Theblanks also vary in length slightly due to feeding errors at the cutoff.1

The detent for the movable gauge is located in a position where it isdifficult for an operator to adjust the same, especially when theapparatus is running. It has been suggested heretofore to provide amotorized control for the movable side gauge. However, such motorizedcontrols are slow or they unnecessarily complicate the adjustment of theside gauge or substantially increase the cost of the apparatus.

' In accordance with the present invention, the movable side gaugeincludes a plate-like member connected to a pneumatic or hydrauliccylinder. In addition, the

provision of a pneumatic cylinder for effecting movement of the platemember toward or away from the stationary side gauge permits rapidadjustments to accommodate over-sized sheets. After the excessivelyoversize sheets are processed, the plate member can be rapidly andpositively returned to its initial setting. The pneumatic cylinder isremotely operated so as to permit adjustment while the apparatus isrunning and containing a full hopper of sheets to be processed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatusfor handling sheets such as paperboard blanks to facilitate alignment ofthe same and to allow for quick processing of over-sized sheets.

It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus suchas a printer-slotter for handling sheets such as paperboard blanks in amanner which provides for remote control of a side gauge in a rapidmanner to accommodate over-sized paperboard blanks.

It is another object of the present invention to provide sheet handlingapparatus which may be supplied -new or applied to existing equipment inthe field.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for retractionof a gauge plate member in a manner which is simple, inexpensive andreliable.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in thedrawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood,however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangementsand instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the apparatus of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a partial section of the view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG.3.

Referring to the drawing in detail, where like numerals indicate likeelements, there is shown a sheet handling apparatus of the presentinvention designated generally as 10. The apparatus 10 is the sheetgauge portion of a paperboard box blank printer-slotter. The apparatus10 includes a hopper table or support surface 12 on which the box blanksare supported. A gate bar 16 is supported by a pair of side frames 14(only one shown) of the printer-slotter."lhe gate bar 16 is providedwith a scale 18 having graduations thereon extending along its length tofacilitate setting the side gauges to the proper width.

The apparatus 10 includes a first side gauge 20 and a second side gauge22. The gauges 20 and 22 are adjustable along the length of gate bar 16.Side gauge 20 is generally maintained stationary after adjustment forblank size while side gauge 22 is mounted for movement toward and awayfrom side gauge 20.

The gate bar 16 supports first and second sheet gates 24 and 26 whichare adapted to be moved in an up and down direction to suit the sheetthickness so that one sheet is fed at a time. The means for feedingsheets through the gap between the lower end of the gates 24 and 26 andthe table 12 per se forms no partof the present invention.

The feed gate 24 is supported from the gate bar 16 by a bracket 28 in anadjustable manner. Bracket 28 includes a hand wheel 32 for raising orlowering the gate 24. Similarly, gate 26 is supported by bracket whichcontains a hand wheel 34 for raising or lowering of the gate 26.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the side gauge 22 includes a gauge plate 36supported from the gate bar 16 by means of a bracket 38. Bracket 38includes a pair of cars through which extends a pivot pin 40. Pivot pin40 rotatably supports from the ears a clamp 42. Clamp 42 is utilized tolock the bracket 38 in any desired location along the gate bar 16 and isactuated by means of a hand wheel 44. The hand wheel 44 is threadedlycoupled to the clamp 42 and engages an upper surface on the bracket 38.

The side gauge 22 also includes an auxiliary plate member 46 which maybe provided with bristles 48 on a side face thereof. Member 46 issupported by the plate 36 as follows.

As shown more clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3, plate 36 is provided with a rowof holes 50, 52, and 54. A boss 56 on the rear surface of member 46extends through hole 50 and releasably supports a guide pin 58 by meansof a set screw or the like. Guide pin 58 extends through and is guidedby the bushing 60. Bushing 60 is releasably secured to a rear face ofaplate-36.

A boss 62 on the rear surface of member 46 extends through hole 54 andsupports a guide pin 64 by means of a set screw or the like. Pin extendsthrough and is guided by a bushing 66. Bushing 66 is releasably securedto a rear surface on the plate 36. The longitudinal axes of pins 58 and64 are parallel to the longitudinal'axis of gate bar 16.

A boss 68 on therear surface of member 46 extends through the centerhole 52. Boss 68 is threaded with a blind hole so as to threadedlyreceive one end of a piston rod 70. Piston rod 70 extends through a holein a bracket 72. Bracket 72 is releasably connected to the rear surfaceof plate 36 and is connected to a cylinder head 74 on one end of acylinder 76. A cylinder head 78 is connected to the opposite end ofcylinder 76.

The cylinder heads 74 and 78 are supported by a platealike shelf 80which in turn is connected .to the rear surface of plate 36. A piston 82disposed within cylinder 76 is connected to the piston rod 70. Theopposite sides of the piston 82 within the cylinder 76 are in,communication with one another by way of a manually adjustable valve 88,conduit 86, and refill plug 90. Oil 84 is disposed within the cylinder76 on both sides of the piston 82, within the cylinder heads, and in theconduit 86. I

A cylinder head 93 on one end of the cylinder 92 is connected to thecylinder head 78. A cylinder head 94 is connected to the opposite end ofthe cylinder 92. The cylinders 76 and 92 are coaxial and the piston rod70 extends throughout the length of cylinder 76 and terminates at apiston 96 within cylinder 92. Air is adapted to be introduced into thecylinder 92 on opposite sides of the piston 96 by way of flexibleconduits 97 and 98 which communicate with the cylinder heads 93 and 94respectively. The conduits 97 and 98 communicate with a supply andexhaust valve 100 having a manual actuator 102 anda motorized actuator108. Pressurized air is supplied from a source by way of conduit 104 andconduit 106 is connected to atmosphere. At the beginning of a productionrun of paperboard blanks, side gauges 20 and 22 are adjusted on the gatebar l6-to accommodate a correctly sized blank. Movable plate member 46will be in its fully extended position and will hold the box blanktightly against side gauge 20. Plate member 46 will then be retractedslightly to allow a free flow of blanks through the hopper. Whenexcessively over-size blanks are encountered, plate member 46 isretracted further to allow them to flow through the hopper. Afterprocessing of the over-sized sheets the plate member 46 is extended tothe normal running position. Bristles 48 on the surface of plate member46 provide means to align paperboard blanks which vary slightly inlength from one another with the fixed side gauge 20.

The supply and exhaust valve 100 and the motorized control 108 are at aremote location and are adapted to be manipulated during operation ofthe apparatus with the hopper containing a full supply of blanks.

Whenever an oversized blank is being processed, the,

operator need only manipulate actuator 102 to move the supply andexhaust valve 100 from the neutral position shown in FIG. 1 to aposition wherein air is supplied from conduit 104 to conduit 97 therebyretracting the plate member 46. As soon as the over-sized blank orblanks are processed, actuator 102 may be manipulated so as to place thesupply and exhaust valve 100 in a neutral position or a position whereinconduit 104 is connected to conduit 98. At any time that the supply andexhaust valve 100 is in the neutral position, the piston rod will remainstationary. The oil 84 controls the rate of movement of the piston rod70 and the plate member 46 connected thereto. Valve 88 controls the rateat which the oil 84 may flow from one side of the piston through conduit86 to the other side of the piston 82.

The apparatus 10 structurally interrelated as set member 46 attachedthereto as illustrated in FIG. 3 may be substituted for the adjustableside gauge on existing equipment. E

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and,accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, ratherthan to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of theinvention.

I claim:

. 1. Sheet handling apparatus comprising first and second side gauges,frame means supporting said gauges for relative movement, said secondgauge including a plate member connected to a fluid cylinder, saidsecond gauge includes a vertical plate which supports and guides saidplate member, said cylinder and plate member being supported by saidplate, means for adjusting said plate together with said plate memberand cylinder as a unit toward and away from the first gauge, meansincluding said cylinder for rapid reciprocatory movement of the platemember toward and away from said first gauge when processing oversizedsheets, a gauge bar, said gauge bar constituting a part of the framemeans which reciprocally supports said second gauge, and feed gatessupported by the gauge bar between said first and second gauges.

2'. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plate member andcylinder are on opposite sides of said plate, said plate having a holeto accommodate a piston rod extending from the cylinder to said platemember.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cylinder is a dualcylinder having a single piston rod, a piston in each cylinder connectedto said piston rod, one of said cylinders being filled with a hydraulicfluid and having a conduit communicating at opposite ends thereofthrough which the fluid may flow when passing from one side of thepiston to the other, the other of said cylinders being a pneumaticcylinder, one end of said piston rod being connected to said platemember.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including brush bristles on aface of said plate member which is juxtaposed to said first gauge.

1. Sheet handling apparatus comprising first and second side gauges,frame means supporting said gauges for relative movement, said secondgauge including a plate member connected to a fluid cylinder, saidsecond gauge includes a vertical plate which supports and guides saidplate member, said cylinder and plate member being supported by saidplate, means for adjusting said plate together with said plate memberand cylinder as a unit toward and away from the first gauge, meansincluding said cylinder for rapid reciprocatory movement of the platemember toward and away from said first gauge when processing oversizedsheets, a gauge bar, said gauge bar constituting a part of the framemeans which reciprocally supports said second gauge, and feed gatessupported by the gauge bar between said first and second gauges. 2.Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plate member andcylinder are on opposite sides of said plate, said plate having a holeto accommodate a piston rod extending from the cylinder to said platemember.
 3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cylinder isa dual cylinder having a single piston rod, a piston in each cylinderconnected to said piston rod, one of said cylinders being filled with ahydraulic fluid and having a conduit communicating at opposite endsthereof through which the fluid may flow when passing from one side ofthe piston to the other, the other of said cylinders being a pneumaticcylinder, one end of said piston rod being connected to said platemember.
 4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including brush bristleson a face of said plate member which is juxtaposed to said first gauge.